Sakichi Toyoda and the Five Whys
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Sakichi Toyoda, the founder of Toyota Motor Company, is considered one of the greatest if not the greatest inventor of Japan and the father of Japanese Industrialization. His impact on the world should not be underestimated. As with most historical figures, our tasks are different because we live in a different world. However we can learn from the thinking of this great man.
Toyoda invented the Five Whys question asking method for discovering the root cause of events, particularly failure. The idea is to get at root causes rather than symptoms so that improvements rather than merely temporary fixes can be made to a system.
Root Cause Discovery is Difficult
Getting at root causes is not easy, and the method is not foolproof, but it is a profound and useful tool. Root cause analysis is a fundamental feature of innovative systems otherwise the changes to the system will be cosmetic, or worse will cause the system to further degrade.
Example of Root Cause 5 Whys Analysis
My car will not start. (the problem)
- Why? - The battery is dead. (first why)
- Why? - The alternator is not functioning. (second why)
- Why? - The alternator belt has broken. (third why)
- Why? - The alternator belt was well beyond its useful service life and has never been replaced. (fourth why)
- Why? - I have not been maintaining my car according to the recommended service schedule. (fifth why, a root cause)
The Five Whys at Lanna Innovation
At Lanna Innovation, we also ask the five whys, but not only in events of failure in terms of production, but failure in terms of a clash of understandings and in disagreements. Why do we disagree? What is the failure of perception or the failure of conception taking place? Understanding root causes is key to communication and product development processes as well as engineering quality control.
The Five Most Important Questions – Peter Drucker
Peter Drucker is by far the most important management thinker of the 20th century. Even in 2010, his thinking and guidance is highly effective and has lost little of its lustre and value.
The Five Most Important Questions
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Drucker formulated five "Most Important" questions to ask an organization. Each of them have subquestions which result. It is the answering of the questions together as a team which builds not only consensus but a shared understanding of what needs to be done.
What is our Mission?
Questions about the Mission
Who is our Customer?
Questions about the Customer
What does the Customer Value?
Questions about What the Customer Values
What are our Results?
Questions about the Results
What is our Plan?
Questions about the Plan
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